Casket lock structure



April 15, 1958 J. A. CHRISTIAN CASKET LOCK STRUCTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 8, 1954 J1 far/ways April 1958 J. A. CHRISTIAN 2,830,355

' CASKET LOCK STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 8, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 II? yen for Js epb .1. krzlslz'an y far/re)" a? arfer J/forways April 15, 1953 J. A. CHRISTIAN 2,830,355

CASKET LOCK STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 8, 1954 I 5 Sheets-Sheet s 76 42 go 78 L 32 l as M H .54 .58 I 70 ,11' 68 I w in r 4 I um AM 72 74 10 Ina/@2102" far/3?? Carzer Jfiorneys April 15, 1958 2,830,355

J. A. CHRISTIAN CASKET LOCK STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 8, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 6y fZ r/M 'A? [drier I .IZ/ornqgas April 15, 1958 J. A. CHR'ISTIAN 2,830,355

CASKETLOCKSTRUCTURE Filed Se t. 8, 1954 s Sheets-Sheet 5 Jrwenfar United States Patnt O 2,830,355 CASKET LOCK STRUCTURE Joseph A. Christian, Chicago, 11]., assignor to The Merit Company, Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Application September 8, 1954, Serial No. 454,751

3 Claims. c1.'27-17 This invention resides in the field of caskets and is a new and improved casket structure with a more efficient and more easily manipulated lock structure.

A primary object of my invention is a new and im proved casket structure which can'be more easily manipulated during interment proceedings and at other times.

Another object of my invention is a casket structure of the above type which has a closing structure which is greatly reduced in weight.

Another object of my invention is a casket structure of the above type which is constructed with a main or first frame that can be standard or uniform for a large number of different styles of caskets.

Another object of my invention is a casket structure of the above type which can be constructed as either a full top or a half couch.

Another object of my invention is a lock structure for a casket which has 8 locks adapted to be actuated in unison by a single actuating mechanism to lock the entire structure.

Another object of my invention is a lock structure for a casket mechanism of the above type which can be manipulated so as to fasten together any number of the main component parts of the casket while leaving any other main parts unlocked.

Another object of my invention is a casket structure with an improved locking and sealing mechanism.

Other objects will appear from time to-time inthe ensuing specification and drawings in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a typical casket structure embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view, with a resilient annular ring omitted, of the lock mechanism taken along line 2-2 Figure l;

Figure 3'is a partial sectional view along line 3-3 Figure 7; v a

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along lines 4--4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along 6--6 of Figure 3; U V

Figure 7 is a sectional view with the locking mechanism in locked position, on an enlarged scale, taken along line 77 of Figure 2;

Figure 8 is a side view of the casket shown in Figure 1;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention;

Figure 10 is a top view of the casket mechanism shown in Figure 9 with the top panels removed; and I Figure 11 is a sectional view taken along lines 11-11 of Figure 10.

line 5-5 of In Figure 1 my casket is indicated generally at 10 and is composed of a main frame or bottom housing or body element 12, and a cover element which includes a'first frame 14 pivoted to the main frame, and a top. frame 16 pivoted to the first frame. The pivotal connection between these three frame members can be made by any suitable number of conventional hinges, as at 18 and 20 in Figure 8, for example.

Considering first the important details of the main frame, in Figure 7 the upper open edge of the main frame is turned or flanged inwardly as at 22 around all four sides to provide a shelf or panel. This shelf has channels or grooves 24 and 26 pressed or stamped into it to receive gaskets 28 and 30. In cross section these gaskets are generally T-shaped and extend into and fill the channels. It will be understood that the channels and gaskets extend around all four sides of the casket in the panels and that the gasket can be secured by any suitable adhesive, glue 5 or otherwise.

The first frame 14 is rectangular in cross section as shown in Figure 7 and is composed of four channel pieces mitered at the corners and suitably connected by welding,

brazing, soldering or the like, so that an open-centered rectangular frame is acquired. The upper surface 32 is channeled or grooved as at 34 and 36 to receive gaskets 38 and 40 which are T-shaped in cross-section and suitably secured by a suitable adhesive, glue or the like. The gaskets extend around all four sides of the first frame in a manner similar to the gaskets 28 and 30 on the main frame.

The top frame, being pivoted to the first frame as at 20 in Figure 8, has an inwardly turned flange 42 in the form of panels which engage the gaskets on the first 1 frame when the structure is closed. A panel 43, or the like, closes the top frame in a conventional manner and is welded or otherwise suitably secured in place.

A locking mechanism is provided for securing all three of the frames together in any selected combination, the locking structure being composed of a locking bar 44 slideable longitudinally along the inside of the outer chana nel member forming the first frame. It should be understood that the locking mechanism extends longitudinally along the front of the casket so that, while the hinges hold the rear edge, the locking mechanism will secure the front. The locking bar 44 is supported within the first frame channel by suitable bearing plates 46 and the bar is moved by an actuating mechanism 48 to be set forth in detail hereinbelow. At spaced intervals along the bar wedge plates 50 are secured by screws 52 or any other suitable securing element. Each of the-wedge plates has forked prongs 54 which diverge from each other to present sloping or wedging surfaces 56.

Locking pins are mounted on both the main frame and the top frame and extend upwardly from the main frame and downwardly from the top frame. For example, pins 58 are mounted along the forward panel of the main frame and project upwardly between the parallel gaskets and are secured by a suitable nut 60 and washer 62 on a threaded stud 64 on the bottom of each pin, the

pin being shouldered at 66 with the stud passing throughan opening 68 in the panel 22.

Each of the pins has a slot or opening 70 which extends in a longitudinal direction generally parallel to the front edge, and the slot is adapted to receive one of the on the wedge plates.

Patented Apr. 15, 1958 ws sustas ssss lly'tonmse to the P and 1 21 8 8 onst tsu e urias spp ssd t the Pigs 74 on the top frame. These ppenings are adapted to receive the pins so that they can pass into the first frame hat} th saslwt i sl sesizaadu ncmg s ea uth 34 35112? figmtrish itm st Eisu w h -wed e plates pass through the openings in ;tl e p ns the entire unit tightly .closed.

.1. h a a n msqh n sm f the los in ihar nclu es neet ss q :8 ws ss e lq. halqskinsh suitable .manner andhaving a' b1ocl-:- 9 2;a q th a r d d w ning 9 t e si e a threade actuating rod ,96. Ihe threadedd 96;

andse ute in whichthe top frame is split oidivided d n tw0. v' d.Ps 1 fill-ad fli ht known as a"half couch! A crossbar 116,shown mFi Q posifio s nsr l y inthemid l tthefirstfr 3 fill-$ ea lriesfo nsas'kq .l flz s fi orm ,ii tshqmd ser ed isachannel member'an dlis suitaljl ylse re to itheffi s fram b w n pt rw panels'112 andf 114 haveinwardlyfturned-flanges 1i. we ed e e te d ng a qsi afliou h u sk ii somple e g o' ej th he, s e as s a u t t fram as we esgtm b ll'lfihQ 1 ;b .ua ers psd ha tthefr r s' s j w Q he s s ea h and sam stb's niately along the .line 1214111 Figure 151. -In this species the ;locl ing ;mecha nisrn including "the locking bar with the wedge plates and; pins projeting jipwardly'from ,the main frame and downwardly if rpfhgthe top frame are the same as in. the :species of Figures through 8 'and other than {the differences noted the "details can "becqnsidered generally-the; same.

ove

"The'use, operation andfun'c'tion of -myfinvention' are as followsz {One of-- the primary disadvantages -of--present day casketsis the weight qfthe topf Users of miaetsge htlpually complain about the-excessive-weight they are t i' i' e s sa pl ng sam . 4 frame can-be pivoted up after which the locking mechanism can be actuated so that the wedging elements will ejngage' andlock" thepins 58 projecting upwardly from the main frame. But the top wedging elements will not contact anything'as the top frame is pivoted up and the first frame will be secured tightly to the main frame. By thesame token, if the main frame is to be secured to both the first frame and the topframe, the top frame can be pivoted down andthe loeking rnechanisrn unlocked. The pins ofb oththemp frame and the main smwtil seismnt h fi t fr me when th s msshsa sm sa ai a tua a e h locks .Will take etf eet andthe three frames will be tightly secured the first frame and the foot panel 114ptogether. When k' l 'sed,,the locking mechanism dipan el 1.12 pivoted down to its egsed, position whiehfthe locking mechanism il reau ivurlianst se h uld h Ilg tedthatjthelocking pins project between ks Q fihfi m henth 9 mm i 'lapplieddu il oih ,wcd i action, th -st a ing pressure will b'eapplied unifor'mly and evenly and 9 Q .tb. $a. k= 1smsn .wi bejshifted in o dire .sl 'tissa lyith a insba c at n t eale inanai and a gh ma ne he tlielockin mechanism'is locked due to the 'annular'disrtsblmias .196 hic d s n W PDP QW ByI this str ut ure, the first frame can bemanufactured ss. tasdst .s ys f rmn sss- T a h h si casket ii a 11 sed. aexa 'shan t j rs frame n b the"topfrarne depending npon'the design desired. B ut on all diifer ent designs, the main frame canremain unsume, for example, that a casket manufac- V 4 7 pint; out-15 different designs or models of caskets.- l orf t helse l5- he willghave to tool up to produce IS'tiiiTerent frame structures including 15 different tops heese! IAS wan d lS diiferent bottoms. But with my structure, the

provide a mainframewith ai pivbted firshfrarrie and a top-framepivoted-onand closing the=fifst frame; Ih use,

the undertaker first pivots up the; top frarlne, the nh can easily raise the firstframe'. After the remains-"arc/finstalledg the first frame may be closed and-locked if desired, while the top frame ;may- "remain open-for ithe interment proceedings; The loekingmehanism can then e released and; the top name brought down; "at

which time thelocking mechanism can again bemioved togloeling-position and ihecas'ketentirely secured;' This procedure is true-of-both the stump species and the half conch showrifiin e .lh we x effect of any group or combination can he re,d depend ingtupon the desires ofthepser. For enamplej thej op mainframecan be made the same'for all 15 models and only thefiretffeimeQnd/or-the top frame needs to b'e changed. results in a-tremendous cost saving toany casket mapu faeturer who is putting out alarge'number of different 'models. "It shouldb'e notedthat the main frame for both the full topand-half couch, shown; in

F es anld 9f'for -eirainple, is identical and onlythe tdp-fr'ame is'changed-I Additionally, the-locking mechanism employed is entirely in the first frame with only the- "pins in ili'eother'two frames. Thus, this lockingrriechanism can be standard for all different mode1s thata casket'man'ufacturer wants to make.

3 It shopld also be noted that this specific locking mecha nismdias 'a' very tight locking action. The more -the 'operator turns the handle, the tighter the various frames wiil bepulled t ogether because the projecting pins. will be pplledfart her into the firstframe by the wedge plates. W have-shown and described the preferred form of my 'inven tion; it"should be understoodthat numerous msditissti sesh nsssrsu it i s n rat Pa emasl 'nithq ithd awip' f a ei r m nfl mental theme. I therefore wish that my invention be "BYE ieteiexss t a b th a pen e l m I laim: V

.1. Int-a easlget structure, a .body portion, a firstfra ne pivdt'ally mounted-thereon extending the full length'of the body por tipn and.being generally open throughout {its g .a top'franie; pivotallvmounted :on' the first I I ucture in theforwar'd edge portion me lncl udinga locking bar slidable longin the first frame and extending the full to :the' variops designs that, a I manufacturerlwa nts length of the first frame adapted to lock the body portion, the first frame and the top frame together, the lock structure further including a plurality of wedge elements spaced along the locking bar, openings in the first frame generally aligned with the wedge elements, a plurality of locking pins on the body portion and top frame adapted to extend into the first frame through the openings when the casket is closed, and means on the pins coacting with the wedge elements when the locking bar is moved longitudinally.

2. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that each of the pins includes an opening disposed longitudinally, adapted to receive one of the wedge elements on the locking bar when the bar is moved longitudinally.

3. The structure of claim 1 further characterized by and including manually operable means projecting through one end of the first frame constructed, upon 6 manual actuation, to move the locking bar longitudinally in either direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,087,551 Reed Feb. 17, 1914 1,100,564 Heryford June 16, 1914 1,158,630 Butler Nov. 2, 1915 1,775,974 Solms Sept. 16, 1930 2,131,564 Ziegler Sept. 27, 1938 2,284,921 Purkiss June 2, 1942 2,723,147 Slaughter et al. Nov. 8, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 592,416 France Apr. 30, 1925 498,551 Canada Dec. 22, 1953 

